Nissan Going High-Performance with new Nismo Models

Nismo and Nismo RS versions of Juke, Leaf, 370Z and GT-R in the pipeline.

These days every automaker needs to have a dedicated performance line. Mercedes-Benz has AMG, BMW has the M division, the Chrysler group has SRT and Fiat has Abarth, to name just a few. Nissan's is called Nismo, and has been around for a while already. But the Japanese automaker is planning on ramping up its performance line, according to the latest reports. Nismo offerings will be expanded into two levels of tune: the base Nismo line and the more extreme Nismo RS.

The expansion is slated to starting with the Juke Nismo that debuted at Le Mans, and continue to encompass Nismo versions of the Leaf electric vehicle (which was already transformed into the Leaf Nismo RC racer for demonstration purposes), the 370Z sportscar and - best of all - the GT-R. The more extreme Juke Nismo RS is tipped to get a turbocharged 1.6-liter four with as much as 270 horsepower and an aggressive aero kit reminiscent of the bonkers Juke-R.